US National Quidditch Team Announced

21 players – along with seven alternates – have been chosen for the US National Team for the International Quidditch Association’s (IQA) World Cup 2016. This event will be held July 23-24 in Frankfurt, Germany. The players are listed below, along with their position and team.

Keepers
Jayke Archibald – Quidditch Club Boston
Shane Hurlbert – Rochester United
Mathieu Gregoire – Lone Star Quidditch Club (Alternate)

Chasers
Hayden Ray Applebee – Oklahoma State University Quidditch
Andrew Axtell – Michigan Quidditch
Julia Baer – Quidditch Club Boston
Bernardo Berges – University of Miami
Stewart Driflot – Boise State Abraxans
Kaci Erwin – Texas Cavalry
Harry Greenhouse – Quidditch Club Boston
Sam Haicmowitz – Lone Star Quidditch Club
Lindsay Marella – Rutgers University Quidditch
Michael “Yada” Parada – The Warriors
Simon Van der veen Quant Arends – Lone Star Quidditch Club
Martin Bermudez – Texas Cavalry (Alternate)
Justine Heisley-Taylor – Los Angeles Gambits (Alternate)
Kenzie Teller – Lone Star Quidditch Club (Alternate)

Beaters
Alyssa Burton – Los Angeles Gambits
Ashley Calhoun – Lake Effect Maelstrom
Michael Duquette – Texas Quidditch
Max Havlin – Quidditch Club Boston
Amanda Nagy – The Lost Boys
Tyler Walker – Ball State
Augustine Monroe – Texas Cavalry (Alternate)
Alexis Wien – Texas A&M Quidditch (Alternate)

Seekers
Margo Aleman – The Lost Boys
Jeffrey Siwek – Illinois State University Firebirds
Jason Bowling – Ball State Cardinals (Alternate)

In order to apply for the team, all players had to write an essay on why they want to be on the team, along with a letter of recommendation from their coach and three unedited films of games.

On top of the players, the coaching staff has also been announced. James Hicks will be the head coach for the US National Team. Currently, he is coach for the Mid-Atlantic regional champions the District of Colombia Quidditch Club. Mollie Lensing has been announced as assistant coach. Both Hicks and Lensing played on the gold medal-winning 2012 Team USA. Hicks sates,

I’d like to thank the selection committee for the time they invested in the process and for trusting [me] to lead a team of this country’s best players. I’m am [sic] looking forward to working with the committee, Mollie Lensing, and the group of players that will be chosen to prepare the United States to bring home gold once again.

Are you planning on attending the IQA World Cup? Let us know in the comments below!